Title Check: what a Wyoming car title really says
No brand, salvage, rebuilt, flood and the other brands this state uses. Each word changes what the car is worth and what you can do with it.
The title is the document that says who owns the car and what serious things have happened to it. Brands and disclosures depend on the issuing jurisdiction’s rules; also review available records from previous states. A branded car can be the right buy at the right price; the problem is paying a no-brand price for one that has a brand.
Title brands and disclosure information in Wyoming
| Brand or condition | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No brand | An unbranded title does not establish that there were no accidents, flooding or repairs. Review available records and the car’s condition. | Check odometer and listing history, and get a pre-purchase inspection. |
| Salvage | Declared a total loss by the insurer or, with no insurance, repairs cost more than 75% of the car's retail value (W.S. 31-2-106(a)(v) and 31-2-107(a)). It can only be registered after the rebuild process. Watch the gaps: the rule does not apply to Wyoming-titled cars with more than 8 years of service, to commercial vehicles, or to any type of trailer (W.S. 31-2-107(d) and (e); WYDOT Salvage Vehicles page), so an older wrecked car may carry no brand. | It is a project, not a car to drive. On cars over 8 years old, get an NMVTIS report and a mechanical inspection even if the title has no brand. |
| Rebuilt (rebuilt salvage) | It was salvage and was repaired. The owner gave WYDOT the list of damage before repair, the name of the repairer and a photo (MV-600); the car carries a "rebuilt salvage vehicle" decal on the driver's door jamb, checked by a police officer (W.S. 31-2-108). The decal itself is free, but the inspection is not: $10.00 (W.S. 31-3-102(b); WYDOT Salvage Vehicles page). A car arriving on an out-of-state salvage title must get a Wyoming salvage title and apply for the decal before it can be registered. If the salvage was only from hail or theft with no more than cosmetic damage, it skips this process (W.S. 31-2-107(n)). | Can be a good buy if the repair was serious. Ask for the MV-600 copy, parts receipts and an independent inspection. |
| Flood | Water rose above the door sill and entered the cabin or trunk, but the damage did not reach salvage level (W.S. 31-2-106(a)(i)). The seller must tell you in writing before the sale (W.S. 31-2-107(k)). | For most buyers: no. If you still consider it, a full electrical inspection. |
| Nonrepairable | A brand Wyoming law names for cars with severe damage after an insurance settlement (W.S. 31-2-107(f)) and that appears on form MV-602. Hiding it at sale is a crime (W.S. 31-2-110(b)). | Not a road car. If someone offers it with plates, walk away. |
| Junk | A title a towing company gets for an abandoned, wrecked or inoperable car with a market value under $2,000 (W.S. 31-2-111 and 31-13-101). It can only be used to transfer the car to a licensed disposal facility. | Never as a car to drive. |
| Marcas de otros estados · NMVTIS | If another state branded the car salvage, unrebuildable, parts only, scrap, junk, nonrepairable, reconstructed, rebuilt or flood, the Wyoming title must carry the brand forward (W.S. 31-2-103(a)(x)). WYDOT brands based on NMVTIS data even if the current title shows nothing. | Before you pay, run an NMVTIS report on the VIN. If a brand shows up, the title you get will carry it. |
The law protects you, if you use it
Any seller, dealer or private party, who knows the title is branded must tell you before the sale on form MV-602 and have you sign it (W.S. 31-2-109(a) and (b)). If they do not get your signature, you can cancel the sale in writing within 30 days after the title is issued in your name; if they hid it on purpose, within 30 days after you find out (W.S. 31-2-109(c) and (d)). Hiding a nonrepairable, rebuilt or flood brand is a misdemeanor: up to $750 and 6 months; on a second offense, up to $1,500 and 1 year, and a dealer can be barred from selling cars in Wyoming for up to a year (W.S. 31-2-110(b)). Separately: on a new car, the dealer must tell you in writing before delivery about any uncorrected damage and about corrected damage over 6% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price; glass, tires, bumpers and parts replaced with identical original equipment without welding do not count (W.S. 31-16-115). To complain about a licensed dealer: WYDOT Compliance & Investigation, 307-777-3815.
How to review the title and available history
- WYDOT Vehicle Record Search (form MV-220): check the service coverage, costs and access requirements; not every service displays title-brand history.
- NMVTIS: the federal title-history system. Consumer access is through approved providers; report prices and limitations depend on the service.
- NICB VINCheck: thefts and total losses reported by insurers.
- The paper: ask to see the physical title (or the printed electronic one) before handing over money. The VIN on the title must be the car's, and the name the seller's.
Odometer: the other brand
Where an odometer disclosure is required, review the mileage and any notation of unknown mileage or counter limits. Exemptions exist; check current requirements and compare the odometer with maintenance and inspection records.
How much it changes the price
This guide sets no fixed discount and recommends no individual vehicle price. Consider condition, documented repairs, insurance terms and market context, supported by an independent inspection.
From a guide to the individual vehicle
Sources
- Wyoming Statutes Title 31 (W.S. 31-2-103, 31-2-106 to 31-2-111)
- WYDOT — Salvage and Rebuilt Vehicles
- WYDOT form MV-602 — Branded Title Disclosure Statement
- WYDOT form MV-600 — Application for Rebuilt Salvage Vehicle Decal
- Wyoming Statutes Title 31 (W.S. 31-16-115 — declaración de daño en un auto nuevo)
- WYDOT — WYDOT Vehicle Record Search (form MV-220)
- NMVTIS — National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
- NICB — VINCheck
- NHTSA — Odometer Fraud
- FTC — Buying a Used Car From a Dealer
This guide informs; it is not legal or financial advice, nor an offer, quote or appraisal. Every figure carries its source and date; check it is still current before you decide.